Electrical speed controlling device



July 3l, 1934. D. E. LEwELLl-:N

ELECTRICAL SPEED CONTROLLING DEVICE Filed Aug. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l 1 July 31,1934. D, E, EWELLEN 1,968,343

ELECTRICAL SPEED CONTROLLING DEVlCE 31a/winke@ arvyllewelllefzz abbo/:M441 l Patented July 3l, 1934 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 18 Claims.

This invention relates to speed controlling devices for use primarily in synchronizing the speeds of two or more machines operating on the same.

piece of material ysuch for example as a strip of cloth, rubber beltng, wire, etc.

On account of variations in the weaving, in the moisture and other 'conditions a strip of cloth being treated, continually shrinks or stretches so that evenl though the machines through which the material is passing are started with their speeds perfectly K synchronized the shrinking or stretching of the fabric soon throws the machines out of time.

My invention'is designed to correct the speed of the machines lin response to Variations in the length of the fabric due to stretching or shrinkage so that the machines will continuously operate in synchronism.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, which are made a part hereof and on which similar reference characters indicate similar parts,

Figure 1 is a View in elevation of the machine,

Figure 2 is a view showing the wiring system for the controlling device,

Figure 3l is a. detail of the lever operated contacting device,

Figure 4 is a view of Figure 3 as seen from the right showing in detail a portion of the circuit breaking device,

Figure 5 is a plan View of Fig. 4 looking in the direction of the arrow. l

Figure 6 is a view of the motor operated contacting device, and

Figure 7 is a diagrammatic view of Figure 4 with some parts omitted and others in a different position.

Figure 8 is a view of the contacting adjusting mechanisms as seen from the right of Figure 6.

In the drawings numerals 10 and 11 indicate machines for treating a fabric 12 which may be passing from one machine intoy the other, the fabric passingl o ver idle pulleys 13 andA 14 held stationarily on the frame of `the machine and a pulley 15vmounted on ashaft 16. The shaft 16 extends through a slot 17, the pulley 15-also being permitted vertical movement in the slot and being suspended on the fabric 12. The outer end of the shaft-16ms a link 18 secured thereto, vthe lower endof the link being pivotally attached to an arm 19 secured to ashaft 20. The machines 10 and'll are driven by means-of pulleys 21 and 22. Machine lois driven by a variable speed transmission 23 which consists of two shafts 24 and 25 on which are mounted cone-shaped disks 2,6 and 27, the speed of the shaft 25 being determined by the position of the disks 27 on the shaft. The shaft 24 is driven at a constant speed by a motor 28 by means of a belt 29. The shaft 25 is driven by a belt 30 passing between and around the disks 26 and 2'7.` The main drive pulley 21 on the l0 machine 10 is driven from the shaft 25 by means of a belt 31 on a pulley 32 on the shaft 25. The axial position of the disks 27 is controlled by means of a conventional form of lever shifting mechanism operated by a shifting screw 33. The 65 shifting screw carries a gear 34 driven by a pinion 35 mounted on the shaft of a motor 36. It will therefore be seen that the position of the disks 27 may be controlled by operation of the motor 36. This is a reversible motor so that it 70 may be driven in a direction to increase or decrease the speed of the shaft 25 as desired.

Machine 1l is driven from a transmission 37 which -is substantially like transmission 23 except that the adjusting screw 38 is operated by 75 means of a sprocket chain 39 and a manually operable crank 40. The speed of the shaft 41, therefore, is controlled by hand insteadof by a motor.

The controlling device shown as a whole at 42 80 consists of a motor driven contacting device 43,

a magnetic reversing switch 44 and a lever operated contacting device 45. The magnetic 'switch 44 comprises two electrically operated switches including contacting members 128', 129', 120', 85 117'. Line wires 46, 47 and 48 are carried through a three-pole switch 49 to contacts 50 and 51 in the cabinet 42 and to contact 52 on the motor 36 respectively.

In Fig. 2 the lever operated contacting device 90 is shown diagrammatically at 45. The details of this device are shown more clearly in Figures 3, 4, and 5. Mounted on the shaft 20 which extends through the cabinet 42 are a number of insulating blocks 53, 54, and 55. These 95 blocks are loosely mounted upon the shaft 20.. Mounted on` the shaft 20 is a cam 56 which is secured to the shaft. This cam consists of a circular disk with one side flattened as shown at 57. A lever 58 is'pivotally secured 100 at 59 to the block 55. This lever is held against the flat side of the cam 56 by means of a, comypressionspring 60l carried by a pin 61 passing through a stationary block 62. The action of the spring serves to hold the lever 58 against the 105 flattened face 57 of the cam 56. lFrom the constructionjust described it will vbe seen that the block v will :move with the shaft 20 until it meetsvsome obstacle, at which time the spring will yield and the parts will assume the posi-"110 sgg sn? EE igs iei:

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roller reaches the bottom of the slot 17. This de-energises the automatic controlling device by breaking the circuit between contacts and 01. Ihe frame 94 is attached to the cabinet 42, the shaft 20 projecting from the back of the cabinet andthearmlsbeingrisidlyattachedtothe projecting end of the shaft 20.

'lhe motor driven contacting device will now be described. This consists of a motor 95 which drives a cam 9" by means of suitable reduction gearing, not shown, which gearing is contained inacasing97. Anarm98ispivotallysecuredto themotorcasingatandhasablock 100se euredonitsundersideadjacentthecam. A contact bar 101 is secin'ed to the lower side of the armsndisheldincontactwiththearmby means of compression spring 102 which sun roimdsapin103securedinthearm98. Theouter end of the arm 101 carries a. contact 104. Positioned adjacent the'contact 104 is a plate 105 carrying on its lower end a contact 106 adapted to be engaged by the contact 104. The plate isprovidedwithaslot. 'lhepiate 105carriesan extension 107 through which ascrew 106 extends, the screw being held in place by a fixed bearing 100. Itwillbeaeenthatbyturningthescrew 108thecontact106canbemovedtowardoraway th'econtact104. 'llinpurposeofthisaml-` msimentistovarythelengthoftimethatconf tacts104and106willbeinengagement Theplats 105 may be marked with suitable graduations and a pointer 105' may indicate the vertical position of the plate. The structure Just defined operates as follows: The motor 05 runs continuously and ataconstantspeedthecamtendstobring contacts 104 and 106 into engagement at regular intervals; the frequency with which the contacts 104 and 106 are brought together is deter-v minedbytheratioofthegearingincasingil'l which determines the speed of the cam 96 and by the number of points on the cam. The length of time during which contacts 104 and 106 are actually in engagement depends upon the position oi the plate 105 which carries the contact 106.

As'the cam 96 rotates in a clockwise direction contacts 104, 106 will be instantly separated when theshoel00 dropsoifoneofthepointsonthe cam 06. The circuit between contacts 104 and 106 will be closed and opened at regular intervals.

The method of operation is as follows: Assume thatmachines 10 andll havebeenstsrtedsothat they will operate in synchronism to keep the fabric 100 12 at a constant tension. ,On account of variations in the weaving. in the moisture in the fabric and other conditions which it is impossible to control, the strip of cloth being treated, continually shrinks or stretches so that even though the machines are started with their speeds perfectly synchronised the changing conditions of the fabric itself soon throws them out of time. If the fabric stretches, the roller 15 is lowered in the slot 17; if the fabric shrinks it pulls the roller 15 upward in tne slot 17. For the purpose of further describing the operation we will assume that the fabric has stretched, the roller 15 therefore starts to drop in the slot 17. By means of the link and arm connections 18 and 19 this tends to rotate the shaft 20 in a counterclockwisedirectionasshowninli'igure 1 andin a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 4. This iirst brings contact arm 64 into engagement with contact screw 66. This would close the circuit as m follows: starting from contact 64, screw 66, passing through bar 68, wire 150,` contact 104, contact 106, wire 115, switch 110 which is always normally closed, wire 116, contact 90, contact 91, wire 117, contact plate 51, wire 118 to line wire 47, and 125 from line wire 46 through wire 110. contact plate 50, wire 120, plate 121, wire 122, contact 123, contact iso, wire 131, plate 132, wire 133, con 134, wire to contact 64. It will therefore be seen that while contacts 64 and 66 are closed a cur- 41w rent intermittently passes through the coil 134 to close contacts 120 and 117' of switch 44 and imparting slight movements to the motor 36 which in turn imparts slight movements to the speed changing mechanism, operated by a screw l 38 on the transmission 23. The amount of these changescanberegulatedbyadiustingthctiming contacts 104 and 106. Usually when variations take place in the length of the fabric due to stretching, a very slight change in the speed of the machine is suilicient to compensate for the change in the length of the fabric, and a change inthespeedofthemachinemcsusesachange in the speed of the fabric 12 passing out of the machine 10 and changes the position of the roller i 15, i. e.. raises the roller, breaking the contact betweenthescrew66andthecontactbar64. No speedchangesthentakenplaceuntiltheroller 15 again moves.

y20 in the opposite is to. holdmthe contact bars 53, 54, and 55 in position on the moves in theopposite direction, a contact will be broken between the screw 66 and the bar 64. As long as only these two remain in contact slight speed changes will be made at regular intervals until the proper speed relation is reached.

Ordinarily the entire speed controlling will take place by contact 64 coming into engagement with screw 66 or contact 63 coming into engagement with screw 65 which operates speed changing mechanism in the opposite direction. In case the short impulses described above do not give the proper speed adjustment .the roller 15 will continue to descend, contactblock 54 moving with the'shaft 20 until the bar 64 is brought into engagement with contact screw 71. When this takes place the circuit is closed as follows: beginning with contact bar 64, screw 71,- bar 73, wire 115, switch 110, wire 116, contact 90, contact 91, wire 117, plate 51, wire 118 to line wire 47, from line wire 46 through wire 119, plate 50, wire 120, plate 121, wire 122, contact 123, contact 130, wire 131, plate 132, wire 133, through coil 134, wire 135 to contact 64. Coil 134 will therefore be energized continuously holding contacts 120' and 117' of switch 44 closed and giving a continuous 'movement to the speed changing mechanism. This will change the speed of machine 10 too great an amount to give the proper speeds. Due tothe inertia of the parts of the machine 10, a short time is required for machine 10 to reach the speed indicated by the changes made on the transmission 23. The floating roll 15 will therefore begin to rise moving the shaft direction until the contact 63 is brought into engagement with contact screw 65 when a, series of impulses through the speed changing motor 36 will pass through a circuit as follows: From contact 63, contact screw 65, bar 67, wire 69, wire 150, contact 104, contact 106, wire 115, switch 110, wire 116, contact 90, contact 91 wire 117, plate 51, wire 116 to line wire 47 and from line wire 46 through wire 119, plate 50, wire 120, plate 121, wire 122, contact 123, contact 124, wire 125, plate 126, wire 127, coil 128 wire'129 to contact 63. This energizes the coil 128 and closes the contacts 128' and 129'. A series of impulses is imparted to the motor 36 to operate it in the reverse direction from which it was operated when contacts 120' and 117' were closed.

In case of a sudden change in the length of the cloth the roll 15 will continue moving and continue rotating the shaft 20 after the contact 64 has come into engagement with the screw 71. This will cause plate 53 which carries arm 73 to move with the shaft 20 until the adjusting screw 76 strikesthe rod 77. A further movement of the roller 15 will compress the spring 61. The edge of the cam 56 which is moved in a. clockwise vdirection will move the lever 58 to the position shown in Figure 7, then when the roller 15 begins to rise the plate 55 will move with the shaft 20 due to the action of the spring 6l, cam 56 and lever 58 so that a continued movement of the motor. 36 is maintained after machine 10 has reached the proper speed relation with respect to the machine Iv11. This prolonged movement of the motor 36 is purposely provided in the machine 10 for a greater speed than is necessary and to move the oating roll 15` to a higher position in the slot 17 than is necessary. The action of this device then tends to keep the floating roll in the center of its movement in the slot 17.

shaft 20. When the shaft 20 It will be seen from the foregoing description that the slight inaccuracies in the speed relation between machines 10 and 11 are corrected by slight movements of the motor 36 through the closing and opening of the circuit between contacts 104 and 106. A little greater change in speed relation is corrected by a continuous movement of the motor 36 through contacts between the bar 63 and screw 70 or the bar 64 and screw 71 and an unusual inaccuracy of speed relations is corrected by a prolongedl movement of the motor 36.

The mechanism shown diagrammatically carrying contacts 123, 124 and 130 is a limit switch operated by a movable part of the transmission. When the transmission speed changing mechanism has shifted to the position where shaft 25 is running at its fastest speed contacts 130 and 123 are separated. When it reaches its slowest speed of shaft 25 contacts 123 and 124 are separated. This limit switch mechanism is shown more fully in my Patent No. 1,601,865, dated October 5, 1926. This is simply a limit switch to prevent movement of the transmission speed changing mechanism after it has reached its fast or slow limit.

Mounted on the cabinet 42 is a disconnecting switch 110. The purpose of this switch 110 is to disconnect the automatic controlling. device and at the same time leave the push button 111 connected with the speed changing motor 36 since the push button 111 operates the magnetic reversing switches 44. The push button 111 is mounted on the cabinet 42 and carries two buttons 112 and 113. By operating the button 112 the circuit is closed as follows: Starting with the switch 49 circuit passes from wire 47 through wire 118, plate 51, wire 117, wire 136, wire 137, Wire 135 to coil 134, wire 133, plate 132, wire 131, contacts 130 and 123, wire 122,' plate 121, wire 120, plate 50, wire 119 to lead in wire 46. This energizes the coil 134 and closes contacts 120 and 117. This switch closes the circuit to the motor 36, and this motor will run continuously as long as switch 112 is closed. The motor 36 is caused to run in a direction to increase the speed of the shaft 25 which causes the roll 15 to rise in the slot 17. By operating push button 113 the circuit is closed through wire 136, plate 51, Wire 118 to lead-in Wire 47 and from lead-in wire 46 to wire 119, plate 50, wire 120, plate 121, contact 123, contact 124, wire 125, plate 126, wire 127, through coil 128, wire 129, wire 144 to switch 113. I'his energizes the coil 128 to close contacts 128 and 129'. This closes the circuit to the motor 36 and causes the motor to run continuously in a direction opposite to that just described when coil 134 was energized. It will be seen from the circuit just closed that when contacts 128' and 129' are closed that contact point 143 is connected to lead-in wire 47 and contact 141 is connected with lead-in wire 46, and that when contacts 120' and 117 are closed contact 143 is connected to lead in wire 46 and contact 141 is connected to the leadI in wire 47. The motor 36 is a S-phase A. C. motor inl which reversing the poles, reverses the rotation of the motor. The switch 111 therefore supplies manwithout departing fromthe spirit of my invention vand I therefore do not limit myself to what is shown in the drawings and described in the specincation but lonly as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my said invention,- whatlclaimasnewanddesiretosecurebybetters Patent is:

l. In a processing machine the combination of a plurality of machines for operating upon the work, means for changing the speed of one of the machines to maintain the proper speed relation between the machines. the said means being controlled by variations in the length of material being processed, said means comprising speed changing means, and means for causing the speed changing means to operate at predetermined periods and for predetermined durations. said last- "named means being independent of the actions gfrttlllie processing machine. substantially as set 2. In a machine for treating material, which material may be stretched or shrunk during the treatmentthe combination of a plurality of driving mechanisms for moving the material through the machine. means for changing the speed of one of the mechanisms to vary the speed relation between the mechanisms, means responsive to variations in the length of material for causing operation of the speed changing mechanism, and means for limiting the speed changing mechanism to cause it to operate for predetermined durations, said last named means operating independently of the machine for treating the material and means for preventing a prolonged movement of the speed shifting means in case the means responsive to variations in the length of material moves beyond a predetermined point, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for treating material, which material may be stretched or shrunk during the treatment the combination of a plurality of driving mechanisms for moving the material through the machine. means for changing the speed of one of the mechanisms to vary the speed relation between the mechanisms, means responsive to variations in the length of material for causing operation of the speed changingv mechanism, and means for limiting the speed changing mechanism to cause it to operate at predetermined periods and for predetermined durations comprising a continuously operated motor and a break and make contact switch, said motor operating independently of the means responsive to variations in the length of the material, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination of a driven machine for handling a strip of material, a movable element contacting with said strip, means for feeding said strip, and means controlled by said movable part 4for varying the action of the feeding mechanism upon any change-in the line of movement of said strip irrespective of the position of said movable partrelative to the remainder of the machine, means for limiting operation of said varying means to predetermined intervals, and means for predetermininlng the time between operations and during which the varying means operates, comprising a continuously operated motor, a break and make contact switch operated by said motor, and means for adjusting the contacts of said switch to vary the time during which they are in contact with each other, substantially as set forth.

5 A device for treating fabric comprising means for moving the fabric through the machInemeansfoi-varyingthespeedofapartcf :seams response to changes due to shrinkage or stretching, means for operating the speed changing means at intervals and for short durations only. said last named meansccmprising a constantially as set forth.

6. A device for treating fabric comprising means for moving the fabric through the machine, means for varying the speed of a part of the fabric` moving means in response to changes in the length of the fabric due to shrinkage or stretching. means for operating the speed changing means at intervals and for short durations only comprising contact points and continuously operating motor for opening and closing said points. means for changing the time during which the speed changing means operates.' and means for changing the frequency with which the speed changing means operates, substantially as set forth.

7. A device for treating fabric comprising means for moving the fabric through the machine, means for varying the speed of a part of the fabric moving means in response to changes in the length of the fabric due to shrinkage or stretching, means for operating the speed changing means at intervals and for short durations only, the means for changing the time during which the speed changing means operates, and the means for changing the duration of movement of the speed changing means being independent of the operating means for moving the fabric through the machine, substantially as set orth.

8. A machine for treating fabric comprising means for winding the fabric and separate means for unwinding the fabric, driving mechanism for each of these means, means for varying the speed of one of the driving'mechanisms in response to the variations in the length of fabric due to shrinkage or stretching to compensate for the length of the fabric and to keep it at a substantially uniform tension as it through the machine. means for limiting the speed changing means to short durations only said last named means comprising a continuously operating motor in control of circuit making and breaking mechaanism which circuit-is in control of speed changing mecahnism. and means for varying the frequency of the speed changing durations, substantially as set forth.

9. In a processing machine having a plurality of driving mechanisms for conducting material through the machine speed changing mechanism, a controller for operating the speed changing mechanism for the driving means, said controller having means for operating the speed changing means at short intervals of time, said controller being operated independently of the processing machine itself, substantially as set forth.

' l0. In combination a plurality of control circuits for operating mechanism a controller having means for selectively engaging contacts in said control circuits and continuously operating contact engaging means, whereby electrical impulses are passed through said control circuits at regular intervals during a predetermined moveof the selective contact means, substantially as set forth.

ll.lnamachine.adrivenmecha nism for moving a strip of material which strip has a tendency to stretch and to shrink, a movable element supported on said strip and movable with the stretching and contracting of the strip, means operable by said movable element for changing the speed of the driven machine in response to contraction and stretching of the material, a circuit for operating said speed changing mechanism, a switch for controlling said circuit. means for continuously engaging and disengaging contacts in said circuit whereby the speed of the driven machine is controlled in a 'step-by-step manner and in response to changing condition of the strip of material, substantially as set forth.

12. In combination a contactor having means for selectively engaging contacts in control circuits, separate continuously operating means for intermittently engaging contacts in one or more of said circuits, whereby the current is passed through control circuits intermittently during a predetermined movement of the contactor and whereby the current is passed continuously through the control circuits after the contacter has moved beyond the predetermined limit, substantially as set forth. 13. A machine for operating upon work comprising' a movable element actuated by variations i of some condition or characteristic of the work,

a contactor operated by the movable element, said contacter having means for selectively engaging contacts in control circuits, separate continuously operating means for intermittently engaging contacts in one or more of said control circuits, whereby the current is passed through control circuits intermittently during a predetermined movement of the movable element and whereby the current is passed continuously through the control circuit after the movable element has moved beyond predetermined limits, substantially as set forth.

14. In combination, an electrically driven machine for handling a strip of material having circuits and make and break contacts therein, a contact operating element movable by changes in the condition of said strip for selectively opening and closing contacts in circuits which control the driving means for the machine whereby the speed of the driven machine is controlled by the movable contact operating element changing its position in response to variations of the condition of the strip of material, and a second contact mechanism operating continuously and engaging contacts at regular intervals and operating independently of the driven machine and controlling contacts in only some of the circuits by which the driven machine is operated, substantially as set forth.

15. In combination with control circuits of a continuously operating means for intermittently engaging contacts in one or more of said circuits, a contactor having means for selectively engaging contacts in said control circuits, whereby the current is passed through some of said control circuits intermittently during a predetermined movement of the contactor and whereby the current is passed continuously through control circuits after the contacter has moved beyond predetermined lengths, substantially as set forth.

16. 'I'he combination with a processing machine having a movable element actuated by variation of some condition of the work, of a contactor operated by said movable element and engaging contacts in control circuits, separate continuously operating means for intermittently engaging contacts in one or more of said control circuits .said contactor having means for selectively engaging contacts in said control circuits, whereby the current is passed through control circuits intermittently during a predetermined movement of the movable element and whereby yso the current is passed continuously through the control circuit after the movable element has moved beyond predetermined limits, substantially as set forth.

17. The combination with a processing machine having a movable element actuated by variations of some condition of the Work, of al contacter operated by said movable element and engaging contacts in control circuits, separate continuously operating means for intermittently engaging contacts in one or more of said control circuits, said contacter having means for selectively engaging contacts in said control circuits, whereby the current is passed through control circuits intermittently during a predetermined movement of the movable element and whereby the current is passed continuously through the control circuit after the movable element has moved beyond predetermined limits, and means for adjusting the length of time the contacts in the continuously operating means are in engage-- ment, substantially as set forth.

18. The combination with a processing machine having a movablel element actuated by variations of some characteristic of the work,of a contactor operated by said movable element and engaging contacts in control circuits, separate continuously operating means for intermittently engaging contacts in one or moreof said control circuits, said contactor having means for selectively engaging contacts in said control circuits, whereby the current is passed through control circuits intermittently during a predetermined movement of the movable element and whereby the current is passed continuously through the control circuit after the movable element has moved beyond predetermined limits, means for adjusting the length of time the contacts in the continuously operating means are in engagement, and means for adjusting the contacts in said contactor to predetermine the time in which the contacts will be engaged in relation to the position of themovable part of the machine or process, substantially as set forth.

DARCY E. LEWEuEN. 

